Attention homebrewers! I ran across this article in the March 16 edition
of EE Times magazine:

"Silicon structures too small? Add yeast...

London - Researchers at the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering at
University College, London, have found a novel method for producing quantum
semiconductor structures using a yeast, called schizosaccharomyces pombe.
Mixing the yeast with cadmium sulphate, the researchers were able to produce
crystalline structures 1.8nm in diameter. Developed as part of (a) project to
produce biosensors, the process can yield uniform structures, making their
electrical properties more predictable.
The quantum structures have already demonstrated luminescent properties
that do not exist in bulk cadmium sulphide, a potential applications are now
being considered, including quantum wires."